English vocabulary · C1
Rarefied
/ˈrerəˌfaɪd/ · adj.
Rarefied describes air that is thin, or a world open to very few people. It can feel high above normal daily life.
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Example sentences
- She breathed the rarefied mountain air.
- His rarefied joke confused us.
Word origin and roots
from Latin
- rarus — thin (from Latin)
- facere — make (from Latin)
Synonyms and nuances
- HIGH — above ordinary life (Far Above Normal)
- FINE — high in quality (Polished Taste)
- SELECT — open to few (Chosen Few)
Similar words
- exclusive
- elite
- refined
- esoteric
- elevated
Lesson notes
Rarefied describes air that is thin, or a world open to very few people. It can feel high above normal daily life.
Related: high, fine, select. Use rarefied when few can enter.
She breathed the rarefied mountain air. His rarefied joke confused us.
From Latin. Rarus- means thin. Facere- means make. Thin air makes breathing harder. That's rarefied.